Finds prohibited CSP cough syrup in 34,800 bottles.
By Fatimah Idera
In a bid to enforce the Federal Government’s ban order of 2018 on codeine cough syrup, the Nigeria Customs Service has impounded four container loads of the illicit drug worth N1.2bn at the Apapa Port in Lagos State.
Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, in a statement explained that: “In October 2024, our officers, during a joint examination of 1×40 container number MRKU0377493 found prohibited CSP cough syrup in 34,800 bottles.The offensive importation was also found to have expired.
“The smugglers packed them in 174 cartons with 200 bottles per carton. During another examination in the same terminal, a 1×40 container TGBU8886020 was found to be laden with 39,700 bottles of DSP cough syrup packed in 100 bottles per carton.Another 1x40ft container NO TCKU6800526 dropped at APMT Container Terminal, said to contain essential goods was examined and after examination it was found to contain a concealment of 19 cartons of CSJ cough syrup for throat and chest, with codeine 100ml packed in 200 bottles per carton.
“At Kachicares Resources Terminal,1x40FT container NO SUDU8579006 said to contain kitchen wares was examined and found to contain concealment of cough syrup for throat and chest cough in 100 ml.They were packed in 1,584 cartons. Another set of 83 loose bottles was also found in the container.”
The comptroller concluded by warning the defaulters to shun the Apapa terminal for their nefarious activities as men of the Nigeria Customs are always on ground with several technology and intelligence to uncover and unravel their ominous plans, assuring of in-depth investigation into the current issue of smuggling to get the real perpetrators for prosecution.
Meanwhile, available statistics says Lagosians have a high intake of illicit drugs common among the youth population and the rich.
Speaking to some of the residents on this development, Kafilat Adéyemí, a market woman at Apapa explained that illicit drug perpetrators now use the waterways to transport drugs based on the fact that both the air and road transportations tend to reveal them faster.
“This high intake of drugs among Lagos youth needs to be stopped by the government as many are being lured into it,” she opined.
Corroborating Kafilat, Mr. Abayomi, a long time resident of Apapa Lagos frowned at high intake of drugs among Lagos youth leaving many of them addicted in the long run.
“Drugs are too common among all the lagos residuals and this tends to affect their kidney and liver but they never stop. We hope the government keeps apprehending those who import them, so an end can be put to this,” he said.
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